Al-Dura Discredited, Again

Remember the case of Muhammad al-Dura, the 12-year-old boy who was shot by unknown gunmen, which the media assumed to be Israeli soldiers? Al-Dura became an icon of the Palestinian Intifada.

A lesser-known aspect of this story is that the boy’s father, Jamal al-Dura, engaged in his own bit of media manipulation. Shortly after the incident, he held a press conference where he lifted his shirt to show journalists the scars on his chest as “proof” that Israeli soldiers had fired on him. In truth, these scars were the result of tendon transplant surgery that Jamal had undergone years earlier at an Israeli hospital, after being severely wounded by Palestinian thugs.

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About the Author

Rabbi Shraga Simmons grew up trekking through snow in Buffalo, New York, enjoying summers as a tour guide at Niagara Falls. He holds a degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin, and rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. He is the co-founder of Aish.com, and founder of the Torah study site, JewishPathways.com. He is also the co-founder of HonestReporting.com, and author of "David & Goliath", the definitive treatment of media bias against Israel (2012). He lives with his wife and children in the Modi'in region of Israel.

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Visitor Comments: 3

(3)
Anonymous,
March 4, 2012 6:11 PM

It makes me feel so very sad, and at the same nauseated to read the Jamal al-Dura's ignominious case. It is very scary to think that a person could go that far, and especially publicly, to defame and discredit the integrity of a people who have only done good to him. Shame on Jamal and his clans who supported and backed his shameful and disgusting drama. Hashem will never abandon the Jewish people.

(2)
Lisa,
February 24, 2012 4:05 AM

Does this story surprise anyone??

"Esav so-neh et Yaakov".....do we really think its going to change? Of course we hope it will......

(1)
Anonymous,
February 22, 2012 6:51 AM

Yes, finally justice....

..... and I understand the Israeli government is seriously considering covering the legal costs incurred by Dr. David.

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About this Blog

Shraga's Blog presents an eclectic mix of insights on current topics through the lens of Torah Judaism.
The author, Rabbi Shraga Simmons, holds a degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin, and
rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. He is the senior editor of Aish.com and the director
of JewishPathways.com. He was the founding editor of HonestReporting.com and is the author of a new book,
David & Goliath: The Explosive Inside Story of Media Bias in
the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (2012).